Grand Prix ready for lift-off
April 1, 2010, 11:20am
By Adam Wheeler
This weekend the 2010 FIM Motocross World Championship will begin at Sevlievo for the Grand Prix of Bulgaria, and against this backdrop three factors hang largely undisputed. First, the 2010 calendar is far from finalized; second, the latest edition of the series, the seventh year of the MX1 and MX2 categories, will see yet more new technology pack the start gate; third, it’s still almost impossible to narrow the premier MX1 class down to clear favorites.
With the somewhat surprising news that round six of the FIM contest will be at Glen Helen on Memorial Day weekend, the British Grand Prix – arguably the biggest and most bankable meeting on the schedule – is now in limbo. If it does find a slot, allegedly near the end of the season before the return to U.S. shores for many with the Nations in Colorado, then the number of rounds will increase to sixteen, with two non-European events. This will be the cause of much head scratching among teams and European branches of the manufacturers who fund the factory teams. It will be interesting to gauge reaction in Bulgaria and over the coming weeks.
Within the paddock, KTM are expected to give their new 350 SX-F a prime slot on the GP stage in the hands of defending champion Tony Cairoli. The Sicilian will be seen without a shade of blue for the first time in the world championship since 2003, his first season with Honda in which he rarely qualified. The lighter, smaller, linked-suspension 350 has glistened in the hands of the 24-year-old during the preseason (wins in Italy and France) but has not looked invincible. Mike Alessi is on the official entry list but his participation has yet to be confirmed.
Yamaha debuts the new 2010 YZ450F with that rear-slanting fuel-injected power plant that has received rave reviews from factory Yamaha Monster Energy MX’s David Philippaerts. The Italian hopes for a solid term like in 2008 when he won the title and started Italy’s current grasp on MX1. As expected, Kawasaki, Honda, Suzuki, TM, CCM, and Aprilia all have new machinery to develop and demonstrate while battling the compromise between lowered noise levels and performance.
An attempt to deduce a potential champion in MX1 from across the eight factory teams in 2010 sends the brain into a boggle. Cairoli did not register a podium finish until round three last year (although he missed the box only four times after that). In 2008, nine different riders took turns to own fifteen Grand Prix. In 2009, this figure dropped to eight.
Defending champions Yamaha have their presence reduced slightly but still pack some punch with Philippaerts and new recruit Ken De Dycker. Red Bull KTM boasts Cairoli, 2009 vice-champ Max Nagl, and ’09 MX2 runner-up Rui Goncalves. Rockstar Teka Suzuki World MX1 rely on 2009 star Clement Desalle as well as 30-year-old former #1 Steve Ramon for a fifth season. Satellite Dutch squad Beursfoon has GP-winning experience with Marc de Reuver and Kevin Strijbos. Kawasaki Racing Team goes for a three-rider formation with erratic but irrepressible Spaniard Jonathan Barragan (winning until the last two laps in Bulgaria 2009), new signing Xavier Boog, and returning-from-long-term-injury Seb Pourcel. Elsewhere, Martin Honda has Jimmy Albertson and LS Motors Honda has powerful Estonian Tanel Leok, while Aprilia has the oldest and most experienced campaigner in the field, Josh Coppins.
Sevlievo’s simplicity in its wide, quick, hard-pack and steep layout is matched by its purpose-built facilities and excellent infrastructure. It’s been on the GP calendar since 2006, and Yamaha has won every MX1 GP with Stefan Everts, Coppins, and Philippaerts filling the roster.
The #1 plate will be seen in the MX2 class for the first time since Cairoli adorned the digit in 2006. Now the 23-year age ruling comes into play for the first time in MX2, forcing the departure of the likes of GP winners Goncalves, Anthony Boissiere, Davide Guarneri and Stephen Sword (all now in MX1). Red Bull KTM’s champion, Marvin Musquin, will no doubt be hoping for a less controversial campaign compared to 2009. The Frenchman will be the target of several exciting hopefuls, chiefly Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2’s Ken Roczen (still only 15), KTM teammate Shaun Simpson, and understated Frenchman Steven Frossard. A pick of watchful prospects include Dutch sensation Jeffrey Herlings, European Champion and new Italian MX2 champ Christophe Charlier, and Bike it Cosworth Yamaha’s Zach Osborne, the sole MX2 GP winner (in Turkey) for Yamaha in 2009.
Perhaps the biggest news going into Bulgaria will be the absence of factory Yamaha Monster Energy MX Team rider Gautier Paulin with a broken left fibula. The stylish Frenchman, who finished third in 2009, could be back for round three in Holland, but two races and a potential 100 points could be too much to recover in the tussle for the crown.
For American fans, Osborne’s efforts will merit attention, especially as the hard-revving 20-year-old will enjoy technical inner-engine assistance from the might of the Cosworth group, Formula One specialists no less. In MX1, Martin Honda’s Albertson is the main hope, as the Californian spearheads the red factory team.
Add the first round of seven in the Women’s World Championship and Bulgaria will be a busy weekend. Double AMA Women’s Champ Ashley Fiolek (LS Motors Honda) again partly commits to the competition and will assess her progress to decide if a full-time deal is feasible. German Red Bull KTM rider Stephanie Laier enters as firm favorite but will be challenged by countrywomen Larissa Papenmeier (Teak Suzuki Europe World MX2) and Maria Franke (Diga KTM) with ’08 champion Livia Lancelot (KTM MX HDI), Natalie Kane (HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK), Elin Mann (KTM), and Chiara Fontanesi (Yamaha) also on the periphery of GP podiums.
Live timing can be seen on the official GP site, and free live coverage is available on www.freecaster.tv. Of course Racer X Online will have a full report and will also have coverage following Saturday’s practice and qualification.
This weekend the 2010 FIM Motocross World Championship will begin at Sevlievo for the Grand Prix of Bulgaria, and against this backdrop three factors hang largely undisputed. First, the 2010 calendar is far from finalized; second, the latest edition of the series, the seventh year of the MX1 and MX2 categories, will see yet more new technology pack the start gate; third, it’s still almost impossible to narrow the premier MX1 class down to clear favorites.
With the somewhat surprising news that round six of the FIM contest will be at Glen Helen on Memorial Day weekend, the British Grand Prix – arguably the biggest and most bankable meeting on the schedule – is now in limbo. If it does find a slot, allegedly near the end of the season before the return to U.S. shores for many with the Nations in Colorado, then the number of rounds will increase to sixteen, with two non-European events. This will be the cause of much head scratching among teams and European branches of the manufacturers who fund the factory teams. It will be interesting to gauge reaction in Bulgaria and over the coming weeks.
Within the paddock, KTM are expected to give their new 350 SX-F a prime slot on the GP stage in the hands of defending champion Tony Cairoli. The Sicilian will be seen without a shade of blue for the first time in the world championship since 2003, his first season with Honda in which he rarely qualified. The lighter, smaller, linked-suspension 350 has glistened in the hands of the 24-year-old during the preseason (wins in Italy and France) but has not looked invincible. Mike Alessi is on the official entry list but his participation has yet to be confirmed.
Yamaha debuts the new 2010 YZ450F with that rear-slanting fuel-injected power plant that has received rave reviews from factory Yamaha Monster Energy MX’s David Philippaerts. The Italian hopes for a solid term like in 2008 when he won the title and started Italy’s current grasp on MX1. As expected, Kawasaki, Honda, Suzuki, TM, CCM, and Aprilia all have new machinery to develop and demonstrate while battling the compromise between lowered noise levels and performance.
An attempt to deduce a potential champion in MX1 from across the eight factory teams in 2010 sends the brain into a boggle. Cairoli did not register a podium finish until round three last year (although he missed the box only four times after that). In 2008, nine different riders took turns to own fifteen Grand Prix. In 2009, this figure dropped to eight.
Defending champions Yamaha have their presence reduced slightly but still pack some punch with Philippaerts and new recruit Ken De Dycker. Red Bull KTM boasts Cairoli, 2009 vice-champ Max Nagl, and ’09 MX2 runner-up Rui Goncalves. Rockstar Teka Suzuki World MX1 rely on 2009 star Clement Desalle as well as 30-year-old former #1 Steve Ramon for a fifth season. Satellite Dutch squad Beursfoon has GP-winning experience with Marc de Reuver and Kevin Strijbos. Kawasaki Racing Team goes for a three-rider formation with erratic but irrepressible Spaniard Jonathan Barragan (winning until the last two laps in Bulgaria 2009), new signing Xavier Boog, and returning-from-long-term-injury Seb Pourcel. Elsewhere, Martin Honda has Jimmy Albertson and LS Motors Honda has powerful Estonian Tanel Leok, while Aprilia has the oldest and most experienced campaigner in the field, Josh Coppins.
Sevlievo’s simplicity in its wide, quick, hard-pack and steep layout is matched by its purpose-built facilities and excellent infrastructure. It’s been on the GP calendar since 2006, and Yamaha has won every MX1 GP with Stefan Everts, Coppins, and Philippaerts filling the roster.
The #1 plate will be seen in the MX2 class for the first time since Cairoli adorned the digit in 2006. Now the 23-year age ruling comes into play for the first time in MX2, forcing the departure of the likes of GP winners Goncalves, Anthony Boissiere, Davide Guarneri and Stephen Sword (all now in MX1). Red Bull KTM’s champion, Marvin Musquin, will no doubt be hoping for a less controversial campaign compared to 2009. The Frenchman will be the target of several exciting hopefuls, chiefly Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2’s Ken Roczen (still only 15), KTM teammate Shaun Simpson, and understated Frenchman Steven Frossard. A pick of watchful prospects include Dutch sensation Jeffrey Herlings, European Champion and new Italian MX2 champ Christophe Charlier, and Bike it Cosworth Yamaha’s Zach Osborne, the sole MX2 GP winner (in Turkey) for Yamaha in 2009.
Perhaps the biggest news going into Bulgaria will be the absence of factory Yamaha Monster Energy MX Team rider Gautier Paulin with a broken left fibula. The stylish Frenchman, who finished third in 2009, could be back for round three in Holland, but two races and a potential 100 points could be too much to recover in the tussle for the crown.
For American fans, Osborne’s efforts will merit attention, especially as the hard-revving 20-year-old will enjoy technical inner-engine assistance from the might of the Cosworth group, Formula One specialists no less. In MX1, Martin Honda’s Albertson is the main hope, as the Californian spearheads the red factory team.
Add the first round of seven in the Women’s World Championship and Bulgaria will be a busy weekend. Double AMA Women’s Champ Ashley Fiolek (LS Motors Honda) again partly commits to the competition and will assess her progress to decide if a full-time deal is feasible. German Red Bull KTM rider Stephanie Laier enters as firm favorite but will be challenged by countrywomen Larissa Papenmeier (Teak Suzuki Europe World MX2) and Maria Franke (Diga KTM) with ’08 champion Livia Lancelot (KTM MX HDI), Natalie Kane (HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK), Elin Mann (KTM), and Chiara Fontanesi (Yamaha) also on the periphery of GP podiums.
Live timing can be seen on the official GP site, and free live coverage is available on www.freecaster.tv. Of course Racer X Online will have a full report and will also have coverage following Saturday’s practice and qualification.
